Friday, September 12, 2008

Well, today was finally the day of the Chibi Komadori (the children's horse dance)! For the past three weeks all of us ALTs have been practicing (some more regularly than others ^^;;) taiko on weeknights at the Chuo Community Center from 7:oo-8:30pm to take part in the Chibi Komadori.

Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the entire setup, but basically there were city workers (like our supervisor, Mukainakano-sensei) walking in front with some signs. Then there were children dancing behind them. We were behind the children on a float (being pulled--it was also motorized though, so it's not like they had to do all the work--by some of the male city employees) playing three big taikos (there were also flute and small drum players on board). Behind us were more children dancing. People dressed in Towada mascot costumes (Komatsu-kun and his girlfriend--I don't know her name) also walked alongside the float and stopped to greet parade spectators every once in a while.

I could be wrong, but I think the Chibi Komadori (along with a bunch of other floats/dancers) was part of the Aki Matsuri kick-off parade.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun. I'm not sure if it's because it wasn't as sunny and hot as last year, or if it's because I've got more experience behind me now, but this year it seemed to go by really quickly. My arms weren't even tired at all by the end of it!

But yeah, I was glad everything worked out well. This morning I woke up well before my alarm clock to the sound of heavy rain. I lay in bed just praying "please let the rain stop!" (Last year our performance was moved to the Sunday because of a typhoon or something.) When I checked the weather report later on, I saw that it was supposed to be cloudy (and no longer rainy) by 3pm, but I was still a bit worried that they'd cancel.

Obviously, they didn't, and the weather forecast turned out to be correct, so it was all good. ^_^ My only regret is that I couldn't (for obvious reasons) get any pictures of myself playing the taiko. And since I don't look like a foreigner, I rather doubt that anyone would have bothered to take my picture. (Of if they did, that it would get published anywhere or find it's way to me otherwise.) =( One of the disadvantages of being Asian and blending in.

Oh well, I had a lot of fun and I look forward to participating again next year (assuming I stick around for a third year)!

Ah, I forgot to mention it, but this year us girls actually got to wear the yukata instead of just the half coats! I think we definitely looked cooler this year than last! (See more of my Aki Matsuri photos on Facebook.)

About Me

Canadian and former JET Programme ALT* who taught English in elementary and junior high schools in Towada from 2007-2012. A certified junior and senior high school English and history teacher in her home province in Canada. (*Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, Assistant Language Teacher*)